Banner mounting construction



Sept. 3, 1963 155 3,102,353

BANNER MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION Filed May 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

BY Elbiotk JKzJes 9W,M W8 M ATTORNEYS Sept. 3, 1963 E. J. KIES J3,102,353

BANNER MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION Filed May 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 35 PI28 INV EN TOR.

BY ELM/0% JKzJes ,M&Wa.& M

ATTORNEYS BANNER MOUNTING CONSTRUCTEUN; 1 Elliott JrKiES, Massilion,Ohio, assignor to The Massi llon-f Cleveland-Akron Sign Company,Massilion, Ohio, at corporation of Ohio FiledMay 2, 1961, Seral lo.107,183 i 2 Claims. (Cl. 40-128) i This invention relates to banners orsigns composed of fabricor other flexiblesheetiike material and morepar- I 'ticularly it pertains to means for mounting a flexible banner in,a taut position to prevent its deterioration due to flapping orwhipping caused by the wind which otherwise occurs where the banner isnot mounted tautly in place.

Signs and banners of the flexible type which are composed of sheetlikefabric materials have been widely accepted as an advertising mediumbecause of their low cost and upkeep. Such banners have a relativelyshort life compared to signs composed of other materials such as metal.Nevertheless, the lifev of fabric signs can be increased considerably bymounting the signs in such a manner that they will not sag or bulge orcrease due tot-henormal action of wind,

Ithas been found that sheetlike banners composedof fabric materials canbe used as signs for greatly extended periods of time where the bannersare mounted tautly in suchta mannerthat the entire banner, rather thanany portio nof it, moves with the wind. In that manner the action of thewind does not bend the surface of the sign and thereby cause thethreadcomposing the fabric .-tobend back and forth and subsequentlybreak and result in a tear in the material. Likewise, the fabricmaterial of which the sign is composed is particularly recep- {tive topaint and where the fabric is permitted to yield, the paint is graduallyloosened and subsequently peels from the surface.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide "abannermounting construction which yields to various forces such as the windwithout causing the usual sagging and whipping of the fabric material ofwhich the banner is composed.

It isanother object of this invention to provide a banner mountingconstruction which permits the banner to yield entirely to the 'actionofwind or other objects a United States Patent I V 3,102,353 PatentedSept. 3, 1963 ice . :2 which isparticularly and distinctly pointed outand set forth in the appended claims'forming part hereof.

Generally, the banner mountingconstruction "of the present invention maybe described as comprising a sheetlike banner or sign composed offlexible fabric material,

the banner" being rectangular and having hem portions along oppositeends and edges, a rigid stiffening member disposed in each end hemPOI'il0l'l,=6ZlCh stiffening member and correspondingbanner hemportionhaving aligned apertures located-on the longitudinal axis of thebanner,

banner mountingmeans including a bracket at each end of the banner, eachbracket having a V-shaped configuration including alower apex and upperend portions, each bracket being disposed along the surface of thebanner and having its apex aligned withthe apertures of the end hemportion and stiffening member, means extending without permitting anyportion of the banner surface to bend, twist or sag and therebyresultinultimate local deterioration of the sign. l

, It is another object of this invention to provide a banner mountingconstruction which permits the entire sign-to swaywith movements of thewind or other objects by maintaining the banner in a rigid single plane.

These and other objects and advantages, apparent, to those skilledin'the art from the following description and claims, may be obtained,the stated results achieved, and

the described difficulties overcome, by the apparatus,

constructions, arrangements, combinations, subcombinations, elements,parts, and principles, which comprise the present invention, the natureof which is set forth in the foregoing general statements, a preferredembodiment of which-i-llustr-ative of the best mode in which applicanthas contemplated applying the principles-is set forth in the followingdescription and shown in the drawings, and

noticed by potential customers.

through said apertures for securing the apex of said bracket to thebanner, and the upper end portions of each bracketbeing pivotallyattached to 'a bracket plate and each bracket plate being attached tothe end surface of a horizontal member and spaced from each other by adistance substantially equal to the length of the banner.

In the drawings in which the preferred embodiment is shownby way ofexample:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a flexible banner or sign mounted atits upper edge to the under surface of a -portico or doorway of aservice station;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the banner orsign yields to the movement of a high vehicle when necessary;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary clevational view of one of the' FIG. 8 is anenlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the bracket in the storageposition.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

L As shown in FIG; 1, a banner or sign is generally indicated at 1 andis attached to the under surface of a portico or canopy 2 which extendsoutwardly from a filling station 3. Likewise, a banner or sign 4 havinga construction identical with that of the sign 1 is similarly mounted onthe head 5 of-a doorway 6. Each banner 1 and 4 is provided with bannermounting means including a V- shaped bracket 7 at each end of thebanner.

The banners 1 and *4 are rectangular members for hor-izontal displaywhich are adapted for temporary use in conspicuous locations where theycannot escape being Each banner .1 and 4 is a sheetlike member composedof a flexiblematerial such as a fabric. The banner 1 includes an end hemportion '8, one of which is shown in FIG. 4, which is provided byfolding over an end portion of the material and securing it to the backside of the rigidly in place.

movement of traffic under the fabric material, their useful life isbanner bystitching 9.- .A stiffening member 19 such as a wood slat isenclosed in each hem portion 8.

I f In addition, each banner 1 is provided with opposite edge hemportions 11 and 12 in which flexible stifiening members 13 such as ropeare provided and secured in place by stitching 14. .Moreover, anelongated envelope l5,which is composed of a fabric-similar to that ofthe banner 1, is provided at spaced intervals along the banner'l whichenvelo e as shown in FIG. 5, is com osed r P 3 p of a folded overportion of material and stitched longitudinallyv at 16. In; addition, astretcher or stiffening member 17 is contained in each envelope whichextends substantially'between the upper and lower edge hem portions 11and 12.

' 7 As shown in FIG. 4,. the upper and lower ends of the i envelope aresecured in place at 18 and U by the stitchingswhich form the upperandlower edge hem portions-11 and 12. As shown in FlGQF at least twoenvelopes-15 having stiffeners 17 mounted thereinmay be provided betweenopposite ends of the banner 1 in-order' to stretch ,the center portionand prevent the flat surface of thebanner from becoming distorted duetotheweather elements over a period of time.

As shown in FIG. 4, one of the pair' of \/.-s haped brackets 7 ismounted on the back of the banner 1. The bracket includes a verticalportionzilr and an inclined portion 21 which form an apex 22 at theirlower ends, which apex is aligned with apertures (notshown) extending Ithrough the fabric forming the hem '8 and an aperture in the wood slat10. A nut and bolt assemblyidextends through the apertures and the apex22 and for conven- ,ience a Washer 24 (FIG. 7) is secured, such 'asbyweldthe nut and bolt assembly 23' ing, at the apex to hold The upperendsof the vertical and inolined portions and 21 are provided with outturnedend portions 25 and 26, respectively. Each endportion 25 and 26 ispivotally grnounted in a bearing 27, which in turn is seated in a pillowblock 28. Each pillow block 28 is in turn secured by a rivet 29 toa-mounting plate 30. Each plate 30 is attached to the under sunfia'ce ofa portico or the heads. of a doorway by spaced toggle bolts 31, as shownin FIGS. 4

and 8. The spacing between the upper ends of the verti cal and inclinedportions 20 and 21 is preferably main tained by a spacer 3 2, the endsof which are secured to said portions by similar welds 33.

By such "construction the banner mounting means or gbrackets 7 are heldtightly in place at a spaced interval from each other, as shown in FIG.3. portions of the banner 1 are-held snugly against the verti- Ihe endsurface cal andinclined portions 20 and 21 which reinforce the bannerand prevent it from twisting and turning in the wind. The inclinedportions 21 hold the banner tautly in place between the brackets 7 bypreventing the lower apices 22 from moving together slightly and therebycausing the banner to sag.

- may be rigidly mounted in place and sustainedfin a flat v to bebroadly construed.

tautly in the rain and sun.

During the periods when the sitionshown in FIG. 7. The latch 34 is aturn button pivotally mounted at 35011 the plate 30. By turning the Ilatch 34 to the position shown in FIG. 7, it is disposed in the path ofmovement of the spacer 32 and therebyholds thebracket in the horizontalposition.

The device of the present, inventionprovides a and other objectswithoutdetrimentto the sign; By providing the-spaced V-shaped brackets,the cloth banner plane whereby it is free to sway with the wind as arigid unit.

' The banner mounting construction of the present invent-ion permits thefabric of the banner to stretchanddry In the windthe entire unit islikewise preserved from flapping and sub-sequent fraying and tearingof-the threads because the. entire unit swings back and forth inthe-wind with noresulting damage whatsoever. The ropes in the edgemargins prevent the banner from stretching unduly out of shape.

p In the foregoing description certain terms have-been used for brevity,cle-arness andunderstanding, but no unnecessary limitations have beenimplied therefrom as such words are used for descriptive purposes andare intended Moreover, the embodiments of the tothe exact constructionshown.

Having now described theinvention, construction, op-

eration and use of apreferred. embodiment, thereof and f theadvantageous, new and usefulresults' obtained there by; the new anduseful banner mounting construction and reasonable mechanicalequivalents thereof obvious. to those skilled in the art are setforth'inthe appended .1

claims. What is claimed is:' ,1 I

l. A banner mounting construction for fastening on a horizontalstructure including an elongated banner composed of flexible sheetlikematerial and'havingvertical hem portions at opposite ends thereof, --anelongated reinforcing member in andcoextensive with eachhem portion andhavinga flat surface, a pair of banner inount- I ing brackets pivotallymounted attheir upper ends on Accordingly, the spacing for the woodslats 10 at each end of. the banner 1 is equal to the spacing betweenthe apices 22 of the brackets 7. In that manner the bannerl is free toswing back and forth on an axis extending,

.7, which are composed of elongated metallic rods. Ac cordingly, thebanners 1 and 4 are preferably used intermittently fied nature, such asthe introduction of anew product or service. f i i 60. through thealigned bearings 270i the spaced brackets 7. In addition, :as shown inFIG. 2, when a high vehicle a horizontal structure and dependingtherefrom, the

' brackets being spaced from each other byv a distance substantiallyequal to the length of the banner, each bracket being a;V-shape d memberhaving diverging leg pontions, providing an apex at the lower endthereof, the leg portion of one bracket nearer the other bracket beinginclined upwardly, means detachablyzmounting each end I portion of the,banner on one correspondingbracket at its apex and holding the flatsurface of the upper portion of the corresponding reinforcing memberagainst one leg portion of the bracket to prevent rotation of-saidreinforcing member aboutithe horizontal axis passing between I "thespaced apices of the brackets, the detachablefmountsuchas duringadvertising campaigns of a speciing means also holding said flatportionagainst the other leg portion to prevent rotation of said reinforcingmember about its longitudinal axis, whereby the flexible sheetlikebanner is held tautly between the brackets in a Wrinkle-free'manner bythe upwardly extending legs ofeach bracket and whereby the snug contactbetween the other signs 1 "and 4 are not in use the brackets 7are'st'ored in a horizontalp'osition, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, byturning each bracket 7 up. i wardly from the vertical to thehorizontalposition and f maintaining that position by turning !a latch34 into the 'pobanner mounting construction in which afiexible fabricbanner may be used as a highly effective advertising medium foraspecific advertising campaign. The devices provides arelativelyinexpensive cloth'bannerw-luch is mounted and sustained in asingle plane responsive to-forces of the wind In that ,m'tanner the signdoesnot sag, wrinkle, crease, or bulge, which frequently results inrepeated bend-- Y ingand subsequent breaking of the threads of thefabric improved ,cons-truction illustrated and described herein are byway ofcxams pleand the scope of the present invention is not limited 5leg of each bracket and the upper end portion of the reinforcing memberprevents rotation of the banner about its horizontal axis.

2. The banner mounting construction of claim 1 in which each V-shapedbracket has aperture means at its 5 lower vertex, in which thedetachable mounting means includes a nut and bolt assembly extendingthrough the aperture means, in which the upper end portions of the legsof the V-brackets are turned outwardly for pivotal connection on ahorizontal structure, and in which the 10 turned-out end portions ofboth brackets are disposed in a single axis of rotation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSCranmer May 8, Murphey et .al May 12, Carson Feb. 19, Lippold Feb. 11,Farrell Aug. 19, Schott Dec. 8,

1. A BANNER MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION FOR FASTENING ON A HORIZONTALSTRUCTURE INCLUDING AN ELONGATED BANNER COMPOSED OF FLEXIBLE SHEETLIKEMATERIAL AND HAVING VERTICAL HEM PORTIONS AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, ANELONGATED REINFORCING MEMBER IN AND COEXTENSIVE WITH EACH HEM PORTIONAND HAVING A FLAT SURFACE, A PAIR OF BANNER MOUNTING BRACKETS PIVOTALLYMOUNTED AT THEIR UPPER ENDS ON A HORIZONTAL STRUCTURE AND DEPENDINGTHEREFROM, THE BRACKETS BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER BY A DISTANCESUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LENGTH OF THE BANNER, EACH BRACKET BEING AV-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING DIVERGING LEG PORTIONS PROVIDING AN APEX AT THELOWER END THEREOF, THE LEG PORTION OF ONE BRACKET NEARER THE OTHERBRACKET BEING INCLINED UPWARDLY, MEANS DETACHABLY MOUNTING EACH ENDPORTION OF THE BANNER ON ONE CORRESPONDING BRACKET AT ITS APEX ANDHOLDING THE FLAT SURFACE OF THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CORRESPONDINGREINFORCING MEMBER AGAINST ONE LEG PORTION OF THE BRACKET TO PREVENTROTATION OF SAID REINFORCING MEMBER ABOUT THE HORIZONTAL AXIS PASSINGBETWEEN THE SPACED APICES OF THE BRACKETS, THE DETACHABLE MOUNTING MEANSALSO HOLDING SAID FLAT PORTION AGAINST THE OTHER LEG PORTION TO PREVENTROTATION OF SAID REINFORCING MEMBER ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS, WHEREBYTHE FLEXIBLE SHEETLIKE BANNER IS HELD TAUTLY BETWEEN THE BRACKETS IN AWRINKLE-FREE MANNER BY THE UPWARDLY EXTENDING LEGS OF EACH BRACKET ANDWHEREBY THE SNUG CONTACT BETWEEN THE OTHER LEG OF EACH BRACKET AND THEUPPER END PORTION OF THE REINFORCING MEMBER PREVENTS ROTATION OF THEBANNER ABOUT ITS HORIZONTAL AXIS.